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New Indian Express
6 days ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Focus on revenue, Andhra ULBs told
VIJAYAWADA: The Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA&UD) Department has launched an intensive campaign to enforce financial discipline and strengthen revenue sustainability across Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in the State. Principal Secretary Suresh Kumar held a state-level video conference with all Municipal Commissioners, urging greater accountability in financial operations. ULBs were directed to improve collections of property tax and vacant land tax, and to explore Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models to reduce dependence on state funds. Commissioner and Director of Municipal Administration, P Sampath Kumar, presented a financial health report for 2024–25, helping ULBs assess budget performance and prioritise essential services. Solid waste management, door-to-door garbage collection, and scientific waste disposal were identified as key focus areas to enhance urban livability. The review flagged substantial tax arrears, including Rs 1,680 crore from Central government entities, Rs 962 crore from State departments, Rs 1,860 crore in vacant land tax, and Rs 978 crore entangled in court cases. Major defaulters include Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd (Rs 1,362 crore) and AP Transco (Rs 2.56 crore). Commissioners were instructed to serve notices within a week, publicise defaulter lists and initiate recovery processes. The department reaffirmed CM -monitored targets, including 100% household tap connections by 2029 and achieving plastic-free status in 17 ULBs by October 2025. ULB performance is being tracked via a real-time digital dashboard, with top-performing bodies to be recognised quarterly.
Time of India
08-07-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Andhra to deploy AI-powered mosquito surveillance, control system
Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh is set to launch a pilot mosquito control programme using Artificial Intelligence (AI) called the Smart Mosquito Surveillance System (SMoSS) to monitor mosquito density, detect species, and enable timely insecticide spraying. According to a TDP press release on Monday, the Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MAUD) Department will deploy AI-powered sensors and drones to track mosquito species, gender, and density. The system will generate automatic alerts to civic teams for focused spraying, replacing the existing manual operations described as "ineffective." The project, the release added, will be implemented at 66 locations across six municipal corporations: Visakhapatnam (16), Vijayawada (28), Kakinada (4), Rajamahendravaram (5), Nellore (7), and Kurnool (6). Internet of Things (IoT) sensors will enable real-time monitoring of mosquito density and weather conditions like humidity and temperature, eliminating the need for "blind spraying", the release said. Spraying drones are expected to reduce time, chemical usage, and costs, while a central dashboard will provide live data to monitor field activity and ensure swift responses during outbreaks. Principal secretary of MAUD, S Suresh Kumar, and director P Sampath Kumar said specialised agencies will carry out the work, with payments linked to performance. Complaints will be tracked through the Vector Control and Puramitra apps. Hospitals will send daily reports of dengue, malaria, and chikungunya cases to help locate hotspots. Fogging and larvicidal measures will be intensified based on these reports, the release further said.
Indian Express
07-07-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
In Andhra Pradesh, tackling mosquito menace – with a little help from AI
Andhra Pradesh is launching a pilot project to curb the mosquito menace during monsoons using artificial intelligence. The government is set to launch the pilot, called the Smart Mosquito Surveillance System (SMoSS), in 66 locations across six municipal corporations — Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Kakinada, Rajamahendravaram, Nellore, and Kurnool. The system will help track and control mosquito numbers more efficiently and safely, said P Sampath Kumar, director of municipal administration. The initiative is being led by the Municipal Administration and Urban Development department. During monsoon, the state reports a spike in dengue and malaria cases – in 2024, it reported 5,555 dengue cases, while this figure was 6,453 in 2023. According to officials, SMoSS uses AI-powered mosquito sensors, drones, and other devices to detect mosquito species, gender, population density, and weather conditions such as temperature and humidity. When mosquito numbers cross the safe limits in an area, automatic alerts will be sent so civic teams can act fast and carry out spraying or fogging operations. 'This will enable close monitoring and ensure prompt fumigation in the affected areas in a data-driven approach for effective control of mosquitoes instead of the present 'blind spraying' process that has little impact. The IoT (internet of things) sensors will monitor mosquito density and guide the targeted activity,' said an official who recently reviewed the system's capabilities. By using drones for spraying larvicide, officials say the system will cover more ground in less time, with fewer chemicals and at a lower cost. The system also includes a real-time dashboard that streams live data to a central server, allowing continuous tracking and quick response. Kumar said they will be outsourcing the operations completely to specialised agencies, and payment will be result-oriented by fixing operational accountability. Complaints, if any, from the citizens and field-level functionaries will be tracked via mobile applications (Vector Control and Puramitra). To further strengthen the response, hospitals across the state will send daily reports of cases of dengue, malaria, and chikungunya. Based on this, mosquito hotspots will be identified and targeted for action. Special plans are being prepared for fogging and larval treatment in those areas. 'The whole focus and approach of SMoSS is safeguarding public health. Prevention of diseases through containment of vectors will be the driving spirit,' an official said.
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Business Standard
07-07-2025
- Health
- Business Standard
Mosquito menace: Andhra fields AI, drones, and sensors to bite back
Andhra Pradesh to launch AI-powered Smart Mosquito Surveillance System across 66 locations using drones, sensors and data-led targeting to combat vector outbreaks Chennai Are you worried about the mosquito menace in your city during the monsoon season? There may well be an artificial intelligence-powered solution to that too. In a first-of-its-kind move, the Andhra Pradesh government is set to launch an innovative tech-based mosquito control programme using artificial intelligence. Called the Smart Mosquito Surveillance System (SMoSS), the system will help track and control mosquito populations more efficiently and safely. The pilot project will kick off at 66 locations across six major municipal corporations—Visakhapatnam (16 spots), Vijayawada (28), Kakinada (4), Rajamahendravaram (5), Nellore (7), and Kurnool (6). The initiative is being led by the Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MAUD) Department. How it works 'This will enable close monitoring and ensure prompt fumigation in the affected areas in a data-driven approach for effective control of mosquitoes instead of the present 'blind spraying' process that has little impact. The IoT sensors will monitor mosquito density and guide the targeted activity,' said officials involved in the process, who recently reviewed the system's capabilities. By using drones for spraying larvicide, officials say the system will cover more ground in less time, with fewer chemicals and at a lower cost. The system also includes a real-time dashboard that streams live data to a central server, allowing continuous tracking and quick response. S Suresh Kumar, Principal Secretary of MAUD, and P Sampath Kumar, Director of Municipal Administration, said: 'We will be outsourcing the operations completely to specialised agencies, and payment will be result-oriented by fixing operational accountability. Complaints, if any, from the citizens and field-level functionaries will be tracked via mobile applications (Vector Control and Puramitra).' To further strengthen the response, hospitals across the state will send daily reports of cases like dengue, malaria, and chikungunya. Based on this, mosquito hotspots will be identified and targeted for action. Special plans are being prepared for fogging and larval treatment in those areas. 'The whole focus and approach of SMoSS is safeguarding public health. Prevention (of diseases) through containment (of vectors) will be the driving spirit,' the officials noted. This comes at a time when the Andhra Pradesh government, led by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, has been consistently focusing on transforming the state into the first in the country to adopt AI early in governance. The move also highlights the government's efforts to integrate AI into people's daily lives.
Hans India
07-07-2025
- Science
- Hans India
AP embraces AI for ‘Smart mosquito control' initiative
Amaravati: The Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MAUD) Department is set to launch a pioneering 'Smart mosquito control' programme, leveraging Deep Technology and Artificial Intelligence to combat vector-borne diseases across the state. The Artificial Intelligence-powered Smart Mosquito Surveillance System (SMoSS) will be rolled out on a pilot basis in 66 locations across six major municipal corporations. This initiative aims at safeguarding public health by curbing the pervasive mosquito menace, while also reducing operational burdens on civic staff and cutting costs for Urban Local Bodies (ULBs). The programme will be meticulously monitored using cutting-edge Internet-of-Things (IoT) technologies, including drones, sensors, heat maps and traps. The pilot phase will soon commence in 16 locations within the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation, four in Kakinada, five in Rajamahendravaram, 28 in Vijayawada, seven in Nellore and six in Kurnool. MAUD Department Principal Secretary S Suresh Kumar and Director of Municipal Administration P Sampath Kumar recently reviewed the AI-powered SMoSS, developed by a private agency, to assess its effectiveness. As part of the pilot project, AI-powered smart mosquito sensors will be strategically installed in key mosquito-prone zones within the selected ULBs. These sophisticated sensors are designed to detect various parameters, including mosquito species, gender, density, temperature and humidity. SMoSS will automatically trigger alerts when mosquito density surpasses a predefined threshold in any specific area. The data generated will be continuously streamed to a central server and visualised on a real-time dashboard. 'This will enable close monitoring and ensure prompt fumigation in the affected areas through a data-driven approach for effective control of mosquitoes, moving away from the current 'blind spraying' process that often has limited impact,' stated Suresh Kumar and Sampath Kumar. They added that the IoT sensors will monitor mosquito density and guide the targeted activity. The use of drones for spraying larvicides is expected to enhance efficiency by covering large areas with reduced chemical usage, less time, and lower costs. The core principles of this operation are evidence-based spraying, prevention of chemical overuse and promotion of public health safety. 'We will be outsourcing the operations completely to specialised agencies, and payment will be result-oriented by fixing operational accountability,' the officials confirmed. They also mentioned that complaints, if any, from citizens and field-level functionaries will be tracked via mobile applications (Vector Control and Puramitra). Furthermore, a system is being established for daily reporting of cases related to malaria, dengue, and chikungunya from hospitals. This data will be used to identify mosquito hotspots, leading to the formulation of special action plans for scheduled fogging and larval treatment in these targeted areas. 'The entire focus and approach of SMoSS is safeguarding public health. Prevention (of diseases) through containment (of vectors) will be the driving spirit,' emphasised Suresh Kumar and Sampath Kumar.
